Ciella and I found ourselves in a land that was absolutely frozen. There were numerous trees there that were dry as though it was Winter. There were also many Rivers that were frozen solid.
"San, Ciella, your first trial is the Vitality Trial. You must restore Vitality to this landscape" my Dad's voice said.
"Restore Vitality to this landscape? How do we go about doing that?" Ciella asked.
"First, let's explore this land. Ciella, if you begin to feel cold, you should generate Shin Seiryuu Enjinn's form around yourself to keep you warm" I advised.
Ciella nodded.
"I'm okay for now. Thanks for the concern though" Ciella said.
Ciella and I explored the land. Snow covered the ground everywhere and every now and then we'd come across a River or Lake frozen solid.
"This land…has a lot of Rivers however they're all frozen solid" I noted.
"You think that might be a clue?" Ciella asked curiously.
"It's more than a clue. Look at the trees. They're all dried up as a result of the cold. They probably don't have enough Water and Warmth to sustain their Vitality" I noted.
"I see what you mean. If this land were a living being, the Rivers would be its lifeblood. The lifeblood of the land has all been frozen solid" Ciella realized.
"Then we've got to find the 'Heart' of this land and revive it. It should be a Mountain somewhere in the Highlands. Let's follow these Rivers upstream" I suggested to Ciella.
"Okay" she said.
So Ciella and I followed the frozen Rivers upstream. They led towards the Highlands. Eventually, we found ourselves before a tremendous Mountain. Out of an opening in the Mountain, a frozen stream flowed clogging up the opening.
"Let's unfreeze the opening in the Mountain from which the stream flows" I suggested to Ciella.
We both generated Shin Seiryuu Enjinn's form around our bodies and engulfed the mouth of the Mountain in the Crimson Flames Of Vitality. The opening in the Mountain thawed allowing liquid Water to flow out of it. Ciella and I heated the Water till it was bubbling hot. The hot Water streamed out of the Mountain thawing the River. As the Boiling Water flowed further downstream, it thawed the lands surrounding its banks. Over time, the trees gradually came to life budding new leaves. Grasses began to grow at the banks of the River as well.
"I think I'm finally beginning to understand why Fire is associated with Vitality" Ciella said to me.
"Heat is a form of Energy. It's one of the basic forms of Energy necessary to sustain life however…" I paused.
"For life to thrive, it must neither be in excess nor be absent. That's what Warmth is. It's a state of balance between Heat and Cold" Ciella said with a smile.
I nodded.
We followed the streaming Water downstream and observed as the stream split into multiple tributaries and flowed throughout the land. Over time, the entire land came to life.
"Congratulations San, Ciella, your first trial, the Trial Of Vitality is now complete" my Dad's voice was heard saying.
"I see, it looks like our Elemental Affinities are being trained first" I realized.